Broncos & NFL

Denver Broncos' wide receivers moving 'full speed ahead' after trade

Emmanuel Sanders now leader of young contingent

By Ryan O'Halloran

The Denver Post

Posted:
10/31/2018 09:44:45 PM MDT

Updated:
10/31/2018 09:45:11 PM MDT

Wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders, who leads the Broncos with 50 receptions for 660 yards and three touchdowns, also is now the veteran leader of the team's young wideout corps as well. (Christian Petersen / Getty Images)

ENGLEWOOD — The reality of Demaryius Thomas' departure hit the Denver Broncos' receivers early Wednesday when they saw the empty locker room stall that belonged to him as they walked to their morning meeting.

Thomas, the longest-tenured Broncos player, was traded to the Houston Texans on Tuesday, leaving a void on several levels — teammate, mentor, friend.

"It's been a rough 48 hours for me," wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders said after practice. "It's hard to see him go. It was tough to (come) to work this morning and tough even to go out to practice. But at the same time, I have a job to do."

Sanders, now the leader of the Broncos' young receiver group, hit the right notes.

Will the Broncos miss Thomas? Absolutely.

Must they move on quickly to try and save their season Sunday against Thomas' Texans? Yes.

"I was definitely sad to see him go but we all have a job to do and if we don't do it, people (will) lose their jobs," said rookie Courtland Sutton, the biggest beneficiary of Thomas' departure.

Said receiver Tim Patrick: "Super excited to get a chance to get some more playing time and get a chance to make more plays. I'm happy, but I'm definitely not happy D.T. is gone."

The receiver depth chart is now Sanders, Sutton and Patrick. DaeSean Hamilton (MCL sprain) will take the No. 3 spot once he returns after the bye.

Coach Vance Joseph addressed the trade in a Wednesday morning team meeting. His message?

Advertisement

"This wasn't a white flag, it's a green flag," Joseph said. "We're going forward. This is going to make us better now and in the future. We're full speed ahead for Sunday."

Meanwhile, down in Houston, Thomas was assigned No. 87 and will debut Sunday against the Broncos.

"It was strange to get traded first off and then come here and get ready to play in the Mile High City you've been playing in the last eight-and-a-half, nine years is very strange," Thomas said. "I think it's a great opportunity for me. I think change is going to be good here."

Thomas said the emotions will be "tough" Sunday, "but that's ball and I have to deal with it."

It is now the task of the Broncos' defense to deal with Thomas in a game. Cornerback Chris Harris said he will have the advantage if he faces Thomas "because I'm that good."

The Broncos will need Sanders to continue to be as good (on pace for 100 catches and 1,320 yards) and also see increased production from Sutton (17 catches, 324 yards, three touchdowns) and Patrick (3/56/1).

Sutton was drafted in the second round with an eye toward replacing Thomas in 2019. The transition arrived a half-season early.

"Being put into the position that I'm in, I have to make sure I'm performing every day in practice, film-wise, and then of course every time we have a game," Sutton said. "I have to make sure I go out and perform to the level I'm supposed to perform."

Sutton has been strictly a downfield option for the Broncos this season, but it will be interesting to see how offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave deploys him on short-to-intermediate routes.

"He's a second-round pick that probably should have been a first-round pick," Joseph said. "I think Courtland can be special. Now he has to go prove it along with DaeSean and along with Tim Patrick. It's a young (receiver) room, but it's talented."

Thomas may be gone but will not be forgotten by his young teammates.

"D.T.'s my guy," Hamilton said. "When I got here as a rookie, D.T. was one of those guys that I really found a close connection to, somebody I could talk to, somebody I could hit up at any time. I'll still lean on him for mentorship."

Said quarterback Case Keenum: "He's going to be one of those guys I'm going to tell my kids and hopefully my grandkids that I got to play with. Special, special player (and) special person."

After losing her father in January, McConnell ran through emotional barriers all yearThe pain inside Peak to Peak's celebrated runner, Quinn McConnell, stretches far greater than any course. Full Story

The Boulder alt-country band gives its EPs names such as Death and Resurrection, and its songs bear the mark of hard truths and sin. But the punk energy behind the playing, and the sense that it's all in good fun, make it OK to dance to a song like "Death." Full Story